The contribution and impact of gardens on the quality of life, health and well-being of a community. One of our members, Steve Wilson, has been volunteering with the Canadensis Botanical Garden Society (CBGS) on an interesting structure on Queen Elizabeth Drive as it passes through the Central Experimental Farm, just South of the Arboratum. If you have the opportunity, drive by and take a look, it is an impressive volunteer effort. The structure is the first phase of an effort by the CBGS, in partnership with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, to create a National Botanical Garden in Ottawa. The project is also supported by various public agencies including...

Welcome to the Annual General Meeting of the Copeland Park Community Alliance. Your community association has had another very good year.

I’d like to thank some of the people who’ve helped us achieve what we’ve been able to accomplish. Let me introduce your Board of Directors. Filling the Executive Director positions with me are:

Steve Wilson, VP and Secretary

Brad White (Brad will be stepping down this year, so we will be looking for a new Treasurer) and

Bert Rupert, Past President

The other Directors are:

Mike Sims, Membership Director

Dave Hunter, Web-site Director

Dave Madden, Director-at-large

Jamie Mason, Director-at-large

Jennifer Bougie, Director-at-large (Jen is not able to be with us this evening)

Catherine Fortuné Director-at-large

Rob Edwards, Director-at- large (Rob is stepping down this year)

During the year, we undertook our usual Membership Drive, in hope of collecting e-mail addresses for as many community members as possible. This is the only way that we can communicate effectively and quickly with all Copeland Park residents. We still lack many addresses. You can help us with this, by encouraging your neighbours to go to our web-site and subscribe.

Many thanks to Dave Hunter for keeping our web-site and our mailing list up to date, throughout the year, and for forwarding concerns from anyone who needed to contact the Board through the web-site.

Canada Post, which was a major preoccupation last year, has installed community mail boxes throughout our area, and although a number of us experienced difficulty with the boxes, especially during the winter, that issue seems to have quieted down, as we’ve become resigned to the new way of receiving our mail.

Our Community Yard Sale, last spring was a wash-out. It rained all weekend! A few people attempted another date, but without the advertising we’d arranged, it didn’t work out quite as we’d expected…

We’ll do it again in the spring, hopefully with better weather.

Traffic remains a priority concern, particularly trucks, speeding, and the volume of traffic along Maitland/Clyde; and speeding and cut-through traffic along Erindale, Clyde, and Castlehill.

The proposal for bus rapid-transit along Baseline Road will present our community with a number of challenges, and I will speak more about that later this evening.

Councillor Chiarelli’s office staff helped us get the “Slow down” signs that we placed along Maitland and Erindale, and throughout the neighbourhood. We’ll install more of these in the spring.

We worked with the Councillor’s office to get funding to re-surface the tennis courts in Greenlawn Park and we got assistance from the City for a rink in the same park. Both were tremendous successes this year. An amazing group of volunteers, led by Jamie Mason and Dave Madden, provided the community with a terrific pond-rink, and we now have a beautiful new surface on which to play tennis.

We’re interested in the Ottawa Mountain Bike Association’s proposal for a bike park on the Carlington Ski Hill, and have taken seriously the concerns expressed by the friends of Carlington Park. Because this is a location used by a number of our residents, we need to stay aware of what is taking place there. You will hear speakers from both groups later this evening.

We can always use more Board and/or Committee members, in order to address some of the issues that affect the residents of our community: development (infill), transportation/traffic. And we need a number of skill-sets (legal advice, planning & development, communications, and fund-raising). If you can contribute, please make that known to any of the Board members.

We look forward to an active and productive year ahead. Thank you all for your continued support.

Dave and Jamie reported that there was no shortage of volunteers (at least 20) to assist with rink construction and maintenance. User numbers were equally impressive with an estimate of about 1,000 skaters throughout the season.

Greenlawn Park volunteers organized a fund raiser for local family in need of financial assistance.

Local resident, Paul Sutcliffe, donated a refurbished snow blower to help with snow clearing of rink for the coming season.

Tennis court resurfaced with much assistance and guidance from Rick Chiarelli and his staff.

Barry was very supportive and complementary of the rink and the volunteer crew that maintained it.

Barry donated about a dozen hockey pucks that appeared in his yard after the snow melted. There was no damage to his house but it did get hit occasionally. Barry asked if the rink could be located more centrally in the park (further from his property) to reduce risk of property damage. Jamie explained that the rink was located to optimize lighting. Another resident, Gerry Clark, suggested reorienting the rink to make play at right angles to the original orientation. Reorientation will be examined. It was also suggested that better signage be put in place addressing 'no hockey' restriction.

Gerry Clark posed the question of warranty on the new tennis court surface. The question arose due to damage caused by 'field' hockey being played on the new surface. Fortunately the damage reported appears to be light scuffs that a City crew will clean in the spring, in an effort to restore the surface.

Dave Madden reported that bylaw enforcement and a cease and desist order will keep hockey players off the tennis court.

Marjorie reported that although ball hockey tournament(s) had been promoted on Kijiji, the notice has now been taken down off the site.

Mike provided an explanation as to why Greenlawn courts were chosen by the ball hockey group – The courts are enclosed and the paved surface is ideal . Surface also judged as being in rough shape (prior to being resurfaced), thus no harm done by playing ball hockey on them.

Marjorie contacted the ball hockey group organizer and directed him to the right City contact for assistance in identifying suitable venues.

Traffic Update (Part 1) By Marjorie Shaver-Jones

The Baseline Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor runs from Bayshore Station to Billings Bridge Station with a total length of 14.5 kilometres. Estimated time saved is 6.5 minutes over present system between Baseline Station and Heron Station... not rapid. Judged as simple rejigging of existing bus route.

Question from floor regarding speeding and location of light on Maitland at Trinity United Church. Present location doesn't help traffic on Agincourt Road access Maitland Avenue. Dave suggested calling City to see if anything could be done to relocate the light.

Another person from the floor reminded us that the light was installed at present location as a result of a pedestrian (young child) being struck and killed at that location.

Light originally installed as a pedestrian light.

Dave addressed the issue of the Maitland/Erindale/Glenmount intersection. Can Erindale and Glenmount be aligned to simplify intersection? To align these two streets would require expropriation of at least 5 properties. Unlikely to happen.

Bert Rupert has investigated and approached City on implementing different light change sequencing but to no avail.

Dave reported on collision incidents at this intersection. Between 2012 and 2014 inclusive there were 24 collisions. Near misses are not reported.

Problem of people turning right onto Maitland off either Glenmount or Erindale when Maitland on red cycle. Many drivers just continue on unaware of the second light. Attendee suggested a sign pointing out the stop line might help. Steve Wilson reported that there are signs doing exactly that but they appear ineffective.

Truck traffic – not permitted on Maitland between Woodward and Clyde unless a delivery is being made

Carlington project will occupy park space located on the plateau below the reservoir and above former ski hill. Suggested we picture sculpted mounds. Generally referred to as a pump track vs skills trail. Trail/track would be 2 to 3 feet wide without any dangerous features – family targeted. No solid design yet – OMBA will be consulting with users and adjacent communities.

Should be no environmental concerns as designated space is presently a mowed surface. Won't effect any natural areas.

Parking seen as a non-issue as trail will be used by mostly locals. Typical day might have 20 users. City suggested parking would be available adjacent to hockey arena at bottom of hill.

Question of funding – no City money involved. Money would be raised by way of OMBA fund raising.

Environmental concerns regarding habitat and migration paths for various bird species and bats etc.

Existing paths and trails need to be left unobstructed.

Q & A:

Will area still be available for leisure use (walking etc.)? - Yes, OMBA area will occupy between 2 & 3% of total park area.

Will area be fenced? - No, no safety concerns.

Will area be for only daylight use? - Yes.

Is facility City run? It is fully funded & operated by OMBA under stewardship agreement re maintenance etc.

What is the official status? Phase 1 has been approved by the City (phase 1, 2 years).

What is time line? Will start phase 1 in spring 2017.

Question of shared use – Some Carlington residents reported that they had not been consulted. OMBA said Carlington was consulted.

Jamie Mason talked about his child being clipped by a passing cyclist. Cyclist didn't acknowledge incident or accept any responsibility.

Dave, from OMBA, says their group wants to nurture nature and responsible cycling.

Greely area mountain bike web site has OMBA reference crossed out. Why? OMBA not affiliated with this group.

Note that their Kanata site has been operating for 12 years without any problems.

Marjorie addressed concern about parking on Clyde and Castlehill. Suggested signage be installed to restrict parking. Parking at Duluth Arena at bottom of hill will be advertised.

Marjorie asked if OMBA will be hosting any events that would bring in large numbers of bikers? Not common but might host bike demo days.

Election of Officers

The following residents indicated a willingness to serve on a community board for the upcoming year:

Marjorie Shaver Jones,

Steve Wilson,

Bert Rupert,

Mike Sims,

Dave Hunter,

Dave Madden,

Jamie Mason,

Jennifer Bougie,

Catherine Fortuné,

Andrew Hind

Alan McNaughtan

Moved by Bob Liberty

Seconded by Don Hadden -

That these individuals be constituted as CPCA's Board of Directors for 2016 – 2017.

Approved by consensus.

College Ward Update by Councillor Rick Chiarelli

Rick congratulated Marjorie on her Provincial award for Senior Citizen of the Year for the City of Ottawa

Rick reported on snow clearing plans. The 'Where's My Plough' app has been cancelled due to inaccurate reporting when enquiries placed. No plans at moment to re-activate the app.

Current policy dispatches snow ploughs when snow depth reaches 7 cm. Consideration is being given to change this to 9 cm. Estimate $6 million would be saved.

Expect this to be approved as part of the upcoming year's budget

Another issue – minimum parking requirements for multi-residential buildings is currently 1 to 2 parking spaces/unit (Ottawa averages 1.5/unit). A new proposal of '0' has been tabled. This would force occupants to be without a car thus forced onto public transit. Concept is questionable due to basic need for guest spaces, service vehicles, etc. There is currently one 14 story building in the market area without spaces.

Public meeting at Centre Point where 300 people showed up.

Our ward 8 is exempt till at least next year.

Next issue – duplicate street names. Project in place to eliminate the duplication. Initially huge opposition.

A number of incidents when emergency vehicles went to the wrong address.

Project slowed down for a while but now re-activated.

Effort to commemorate historical figures in past - 95% were men, 5% women. Nominations historically favoured men. Effort now in place to create more of a gender balance.

Buses routed down centre of Baseline Road will have problems but can't be stopped. 14 houses will be expropriated plus the Harvey's at Merivale and Baseline to accommodate 2nd bike lane.

Letters to City Hall (Councillor Rick Chiarelli) referencing concerns are of greater value.

Concerns about U-turns raised at traffic meeting as it applies to accessing condos. East bound traffic will lose direct access into condos and be forced to next available intersection and perform a U turn. This will increase risk of collisions.

Meeting needed to address concerns but must happen before February, 2017. Rick suggested focusing on a few major issues rather than a large quantity of lesser issues.